Abbott 'unaware' of ambassador issue

Tony Abbott says he was not aware the gay partner of Australia's ambassador to France was asked by his staff not to take part in an official welcome.

Fairfax Media reports Ambassador Stephen Brady offered to resign after his partner was excluded from an official party that greeted the prime minister in Paris late on Anzac Day.

Mr Abbott said he understood there had been an issue "at the level of junior officials".

"I'm the prime minister and I don't normally concern myself with trivia," he told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was up to the prime minister to clarify exactly what happened in Paris.

"I wonder how the story has dribbled out from the foreign affairs department," he said in Brisbane.

"It shows to me some disunity within the government, quite frankly."